Home Decor

You know when something has me feeling good, I’ve got to share it in hopes of it making your day just as wonderful too!

Trader Joe’s Tulip bulb kit in a vase

If you want to make someone’s day, rush to your nearest Trader Joe’s (and hopefully they’re still in stock) and buy the tulip bulb in a vase kit! For Valentine’s Day, I got some of these for my sweet sisters and my best friend. Miwa (the BFF) texted me this photo of how they’ve blossomed already (in less than 10 days)! Of course, I rushed to Trader Joe’s last night and got one for myself. Dancing tulips in my house…who can say no to that? Aren’t they just so pretty? It’s the little things that get me all tickled up inside. Have a great one friends!

And look at them grow!!! So very pretty!!!

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After brunch yesterday, I stopped by the Los Angeles Flower District, and I was in heaven. So many flowers, so little time. I went a little crazy and now my house looks like the Flower Mart too. I read somewhere that flowers increases happiness and reduces stress in a home. I couldn’t agree more.

After a long day of work, it’s just so welcoming to come home to a nice arrangement of flowers. It’s going to be a crazy busy week, so for this week’s Make Something Monday, I wanted to create something inspirational to get me by. This Yellow Forsythia arrangement is going to help me plow through this week.

Whenever I see Yellow Forsythia branches I know that it means that Chinese New Year is right around the corner. Typically, they’re paired with red blossoms and it’s common to see red and yellow blossoms. According to Chinese culture, red symbolizes good luck for the new year and yellow or gold represents great wealth and growth.

What are you plans for this week? I hope that whatever they are that you manage to make something or find something that inspires you or tickles your heart. Make it a great one friends!

Chinese New Year Yellow Forsythia Arrangement

Here’s a simple tutorial on How to make a Chinese New Year Yellow Forsythia Branch (or any type of branch like flower) arrangement.

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Because I am deathly afraid of leaving holes, tearing off the paint, or the fact that I would likely get sick and tired of my wall’s art, I have suffered from BWS. Yes, I just made that up. Bare Wall Syndrome! AKA: The fear of hanging anything up so I’d rather stare at a bare wall.

Really though, it’s not that hard. Or as hard as I thought! So, there’s hope. Once I answered the question, “What do I want my walls to say about me?” the rest was easy. For as long as I can remember, I love maps. Love, love, love them. Don’t know why. I have no sense of direction and Geography is not my strength, but I still love them. Maybe it’s something about maps that remind me that there is a bigger world and a greater purpose or the fact that we are all somehow connected in this big, yet small world? Whatever the reason, I just love them. Especially vintage maps.

Vintage Map of Mexico from an Atlas

I finally decided to hang up some pieces. I knew that I wanted to create a home that shared a story of Tony and I. Something with character and meaning, and not some random stock photo. Both of us are first generation and are Angelenos, so I wanted to make sure that this was very much so part of our home’s story. When I stumbled upon Many Places Maps, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I pieced together vintage maps (pages from a 1930’s Atlas) of China (that’s where my family is from) and Mexico (where Tony’s from). I complimented these with a hand made map of Los Angeles from an artist who I met at the Renegade Craft Fair. I framed them and chose an “Old World” style of frames and put them together in a collage. Of course, the collage is slightly off centered, which oddly makes it a center stage focal point.

DIY Art/ Wall Collage: Vintage Maps of our ancestral roots (China and Mexico) and one of where we are today (Los Angeles) tell our story.

Whenever we have new guests over, it’s a great opportunity for us to share our story with them. Some days when I look at this collage, I am touched and overcome with gratitude for what our families’ sacrificed to get us to the U.S., which opened many opportunities for us (including the opportunity for us to meet and start our own family together). Other times, I look at it and admire the bright sky blue ocean and the contrasting orange lines which create borders of states countries.

For today’s Make Something Monday, I didn’t want to constrain or guide you with a tutorial or template. Rather, I ask, If your walls could talk, what would they say? What’s on your walls? Is it your child’s artwork? Movie tickets of your first date? A heart felt letter you framed? Or an antique piece that you found at last week’s auction? It’s not as complicated as we think and so long as it holds a special place in your heart, it deserves a special place in your home.

Be it wall art, a new resolution, or even your bed…I hope you made something this Monday…and if you didn’t, there’s always Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and…well, any other day. Make it a great week ahead.

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Woooohoooo!!!! We did it! We survived the first full week of 2016! What’s got you feeling FABULOUS this Friday?

These babies have me feeling fabulous!I’m enjoying these flower arrangements I made. Anytime I pass by these flowers and see them dancing, they get me feeling so very FABULOUS!!! One of the sweetest things that Tony does is surprise me with Why Not Just Because Flowers. No joke. Something spectacular just happens and my heart gets zapped with all kinds of happiness and all my stresses are magically forgotten about. It’s definitely these small acts that find a way to my heart.

Tony picked up flowers last week at Trader Joe’s and while I enjoyed the arrangement for a few days, I got antsy. El Nino arrived and was in full force this week and I wanted to make something pretty. After a few days, the arrangement was wearing away, so I decided to take out the dead ones and save what’s left and make as many arrangements possible. At the end of an eventful day, there’s just something so fabulous and rewarding about coming home to something made by me.

What’s making your day a fabulous one today? The crispy winter air? That new wallpaper that you just loaded on to your iPhone? A phone call from a dear friend? The hope that comes with the new year? Or the sound of quiet? Whatever it may be, may you find something that makes your Friday (and everyday) fabulous.

In case you want to make yourself someday, here’s a quick tutorial on how make easy floral arrangements.

Materials:

Flowers (pointer: it’s easier to have flowers within the same color tones)

Containers/ jars/ vases (I like using different sizes)

Scissors

Rubber band/ twine

Water

Pedestals (cake stands, stacked books, whatever you may have around the house)

Instructions:

Gather your flowers, discard the bad ones, and cut them to a same length consider the height of your containers/ vases.

Make the arrangement and lay it out, tie it with twine or a rubber band

Place tied arrangement into your containers/ vases, add water.

To create dimension, place them on pedestals (cake stands, stacked books, boxes, etc.)

Optional: Decorate the vase if you’d like with ribbon…sit back and enjoy!

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It’s Halloween week!!! So you know what that means!!! The Pumpkin Decorating Contest is just around the corner. The competition is always fierce. This year, I wanted to use supplies I had on hand. I don’t like carving my pumpkin…too much work and not enough joy. So, I looked at what I had in my craft supplies…and this is super easy, fun and great for kids and adults alike. I love how crafts can bring people together and how relaxing it is.

This year, I decided to make a Minion pumpkin. The best part is that I didn’t have to buy a single thing, used materials I had and had so much fun making this!! I hope you enjoy this DIY!!! Happy Decorating. Happy Halloween!!!

Here’s what you need:

Scissors

Glue Gun

Paint Brush

Pumpkin

Newspaper or trash liner

1 canned good

Yellow Spray Paint

Black Acrylic Paint

1 sheet of black construction paper

1 sheet of white foam paper (or white construction paper works fine)

2 mason jar lids

2 googly eyes (if you don’t have this, making eyes using paper is fine)

Black Ribbon (you can use black paint, black tape, or even black paper)

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“We try to ‘out cutesy’ all of our neighbors,” a customer once told me when I was working a home decor trade show in Atlanta. There’s just something so very warming about the South. Wreaths on their doors, mailbox decorating, tablescapes…they just get into things that we don’t really see here in L.A. I miss teaching and selling to crafters. One of my most favorite crafts is wreath making. It’s super easy and the final product is rewarding. A customized door wreath says, “Welcome, Welcome!!! You’re so important to me, I want to make sure that you’re greeted by a customized wreath I made as you enter nest…so please, come on in. Welcome!!”

Wreaths can be an expensive seasonal item, and who wants to buy a typical wreath that your neighbor may be flaunting? Not I! The best part about wreath making is that they’re very inexpensive to make (the one you see here cost me less than $10), requires very little time (less than 20 minutes), and it’s an original!!! Oh and did I say? It’s SUPER simple!!! It requires only 5 simple steps…5…That’s it!!!

May you continue to welcome guests in your home (with or without a wreath), but hopefully after this DIY tutorial, you can welcome them with your very own customized one. What better time to start on this DIY? After all, the holidays are right around the corner.

I hope you get much joy out of this week’s DIY! Please feel free to message me with any questions. Let me know if I can help.

Welcoming Wreath Details

Materials

Wreath making supplies

Scissors

Jute or Mesh netting (you may not need this, but I prefer to use it as it adds volume to my wreath…and more volume means more drama). If you don’t want to add mesh netting, that’s okay too. It’s a matter of preference. If you don’t want to use netting, skip steps 2 and 3.

Ribbon or fishing string (if using ribbon, choose a color that matches the decorations you’re using) cut about a foot long (about 10-20 strips)

Decorations such as silk flowers, ornaments, flower picks (for this DIY, I used silk florals and selected my favorite colors) The sky is the limit, so choose whatever decorations that tickle your fancy!

Any circular wreath of some sort (it can be foam, garland, I used a wooden one since it was on sale for 99 cents)

Scrunch up the jute or mesh and tie it. Continue around the entire wreath (I like more volume, so I added a second layer). Once completed, this is the base of the wreath. Do not cut the excess ribbons/ strings as this will be used to tie on your decor.

Add your selected decor/ ornaments. Using the ribbon, tie it.

It’s time to add decorations (floral or any picks/ ornaments). Use the excess ribbon that you tied down to form the base.

Using the excess ribbon, continue to fill with decorations, and tie them.

Cut off any excess ribbons/ strings. Hang it up and welcome your guests.

My finished fall wreath. Made with love. Welcome, Welcome!

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I love re-purposing! When I noticed a stack of pallets, I immediately knew what I was going to do! Stack them and make tables for my backyard bar-b-que get together. I thought they’d be ideal for my parties or whenever we are having family over. They’re wonderful for picnics, soirees, and are the perfect height to play board games. I am glad that I continue to get great use out of this very simple DIY. My guests loved this idea too! Enjoy this very simple DIY.

Upcylced Pallet tables for our backyard gathering

Here’s how easy this DIY really is:

Quality Check the pallets and ensure that there are no chips, nails, etc…(you don’t want them to snag or hurt anyone).

Lay a clean blanket, comforter, towel, sheet (I used old comforter blankets as they’re softer and I had enough). Your guests will be sitting on this. I added cushion pillows to make it more cozy.

Stack the pallets in the center. I found that 3 pallets were a good height.

Place a table cloth or butcher paper. I used brown butcher paper.

Decorate it or add a center piece if you’d like. I use jars and fill them with flowers. You can also add a caddy (I used a tin bucket) and fill it with necessities (hand sanitizer, napkins, cutlery, etc.)